Automobile lock



- w. R. TOWNLEY AUTOMOBILE LOCK 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 20.

a a c a 2 w z w l w 5 A 1 r/y/ AAA gill? Oct. 7, 1924.- -1511148 w. R. TOWNLEY AUTOMOBILE LOCK Original Filed March 2:). i920 2 Sheets-Shea m l .20 2 m Patented Oct. 7, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM R. TORTNLEY, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

OF NEW YORK.

TO ROCHESTER LOCK CORPORATION, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

Application filed March 20, 1920, Serial No. 367,387. Renewed August 16, 192%.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, lVinLmM R. TOWN- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, in the county of Chemung, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in Amtomobile Locks, of which the following is a specifi cation.

This invention relates to a locking mechanism which is particularly adapted for locking an automobile against theft or unauthorized use.

It is the object of the invention to provide a combination locking mechanism including a looking or latching element, a plurality of keys or buttons, and mechanism co-acting therewith so that upon depression of the keys or buttons which form the desired combination, the locking or latching element will be released while the depression of other keys or buttons not in the combination will not only fail to release the locking or latching element but will result in more securely holding the locking or latching element in locked position.

More specifically it is the aim of the invention to provide a locking mechanism consisting of a movable member attached to ane movable with a movable part of the automobile, a looking or latching element adapted to engage and hold said movable member, a plurality of bolts tor holding such element in engagement with said movable member and a plurality of keys or buttons co-acting with said bolts, the parts being arranged that any one or desired combination of bolts may be caused to normally occupy an operative or looking position that is a position to prevent disengagement of said looking or latching element from said movable member which bolts will be moved out oi such normal position when the keys or buttons corresponding thereto are depressed the parts also being so arrai'iged that the bolts not positioned as above stated, that is, bolts normally positioned in inoperative or unlocking position will be caused to move into operative or looking position and thus prevent disengagement of said looking or latching element from said movable member when buttons corresponding to such last named bolts are depressed, the depression of such last named keys or buttons also causing sounding of an alarm if desired. Incidentally it is the aim of the invention to provide means which causes the ignition circuit of the automobile to bebroken when the aforementioned members are engaged and to be restored to normal condition when such members are disengaged.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a lock of the kind stated which will have control or manipulating buttons of like appearance so disposed that they face upwardly toward the operator when the lock is applied to the steering post standard of an automobile, said buttons being depressible; to equip the lock with a latching or locking element arranged parallel with said depressible buttons so that said looking or latching element can be conveniently actuated from the seat for looking the steering post of the automobile; to so dispose the lock that the action of depressing any individual button or any combination of buttons with one hand for releasing the looking or latching element will enable the latter to be depressed with the other hand without resorting to unnatural movements of either or both. hands, due to the fact that pressure is used with'both handsin one and the same direction. I

A still further object of my invention is to provide a lock in which a series of actuators, including in preferred form push rods and buttons, are provided, all of said push rods being equipped or formed with means for actuating other parts of the lock for moving such other parts into looking or unlocking position, certain of said push rods selected to serve as those in combination be} ing adapted when actuated to move such other parts into unlocking position, while those out of the selected combination, upon being depressed, will move said other parts into locking position.

Bi still further object of my invention is the provision of a lock having a reciprocable locking or latching element, a series of buttons movable parallel with said looking or latching element, and means interposed between said buttons and said locking or latching element including a series of parts movable in a direction at right angles to said looking or latching element and said buttons and serving to look or release said look, ing or latching element. i

panying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 1s a longitudinal sectional view of a construction involving the invention applied to the steering mechanism of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the face of that portion of the construction which rests against the fixed standard of the steering mechanism. 1

Fig. 3 1s a sectional view on the broken line 33, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the construction removed from the steering post of the automobile and shown in connection with the block for attaching the same to the stand ard of the steering mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectionalview' on the line 55, of Fig. 1, looking upward.

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional View illustrating a modified arrangement employed for moving the bolts.

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view showing the manner in which the electrical circuits are closed through the contact plate and push rods in sounding the alarm.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the 1 construction of the lower part of the latch plate and the portion of the contact plate adjacent thereto.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 represents the fixed standard of an auto mobile steering mechanism within which a movable steering post 11, usually rotatable, is arranged. Secured to the steering post 11 in any suitable manner is What 1 term a locking element or member 12 which is movable since the post 11 to which it is attached is movable in the standard. Beneath the member '12 and slidably surrounding the steering post 11 isa locking element or member 13, the members 12 and 13 being provided with suitable co-operating recesses and lugs 12 13 respectively, which prevent relative rotation of said members when they are brought together and the notches engage the recesses. Mounted upon the fixed standard 10 is a block 14, these parts being secured together in any suitable manner as by bolts 1%, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. To the block 14 a casing 15 is suitably secured, this casing constituting the housing for the principal part of the mechanism constituting the present invention. The fixed standard 10 is slotted as at 10 and the block 14 is also provided with a slot adapted to register with the slot 10 Mounted within the casing 15 is a slidable latching or locking element in the form of a plate 16 which extends through the top of the casing 15 and is curved as at 17 to form a handle by which the same can be raised and lowered. Said latching or locking element '16, or latch plate, as it may be termed, carries a connector element in the form of a bolt 18 which extends through the slots heretofore referred to in the standard 10 and the block 14 and this bolt engages and supports the locking member 13 heretofore referred to. It follows from this construction that when the plate 16 is raised the locking member 13 en gages and holds the member 12 from movement, thus locking the steering post, and that when said plate is lowered, members 12 and 13 are disengaged and the steering post is free to move.

,A plurality of movable bolts 20 are slidably mounted in the casing 15, they being disposed at right angle-s to the latch plate and supported at one end in a crossbar 21 extending between the sides of said casing 15, and at the other end between spaced projections or flanges 22 extending from the rear wall of said casing, or otherwise. Arranged between said projections or flanges 22 of the casing and seated insuitable de-. pressions 22' formed in said rear walls is a plurality of springs 28 each one of which is adapted to bear against one of the bolts 20 to force the same toward the front or opposite side of the casing. Each of the bolts 20 is notched or slotted as shown at 20 for the purpose hereinafter pointed out.

In openings formed in the top of the casing 15 there is mounted a series of depressible buttons 25, each of these buttons being normally held in an elevated position by means of a spring 26 mounted between a shoulder formed on each of said buttons and a shoulder on the casing 15 within the opening in which the button is mounted. At their inner ends the buttons 25 are provided with recesses in which push rods 27 are adjustably secured, the ends of these rods being threaded into the recesses in said buttons. In the form shown, each button 25 is formed of two parts 25 25 the part 25 being in-- serted into its openlng in thecasing 15 from thanthe remainder of the opening, and this The part 25 is threaded onto lUi) reduce-d portion is non-circular. The part 525* of each button is 01. corresponding formation in cross section for a distance above its stop flange so that While the complete button is slidably held within its opening, it is non-rotatable when in elevated position. In this manner the adjusted positions of the push rods are maintained, since it is necessary to depress the buttons so as to disengage the non-circular portion of the part 25 of each button from the non-circular portion of its receiving opening in the top of the casing before the button can be rotated to change the adjustment of its push rod or elevate or lower the same with a view of placing it in the selected combination or out of the selected combination, as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth. Each of said push rods is arranged to engage in the notch or slot 20", heretofore referred to, in one of the bolts 20. It may here be stated that the push rods, and the buttons into which they are threaded, form substantially continuous actuators or actuating elements, and these are arranged parallel. with the latch plate 16 for the purpose of providing a lock in which the parts to be taken hold or by the user are exposed and convenient to reach and actuate, especially when applied to the steering poststandard of an auton'iobile; the buttons being properly designated in a distinguishable manner, one from the other, to face the operator of the automobile. Furthermore, the parallel arrangement of the latch plate and buttons enables the operator of the automobile to more conveniently manipulate the lock, since pressure with hands are applied in the same direction, and as the buttons are spring-elevated and naturally tend to counteract the pressure of the fingers applied thereto, such arrangement will give the operator the necessary force without effort, to depress the selected buttons with one h and while exerting ressure in the same direction against thev atch plate with the other hand.

The push rods are provided with curved portions 27, such curved portions: constituting cam surfaces which lie in two different planes, and when in one position or plane serve to move the bolts: against the springs 23 as said rods are moved by depression of the buttons 25 and in another position permit said springs to move the bolts when the buttons are depressed.

The curved portions 2" of the push rods, as stated, form cam surfaces at opposite sides of the rods, one cam surface being concave and the other convex. In one position of the push rods the convex sides are relied upon to actuate the bolts 20 in one direction while when in the other position, the concaved sides of said curved portions are relied upon to actuate the bolts in an opposite direction; More particularly stated, the bolts selected tor the desired combination are ad justed so that the curved portions tl'iereot are normall positioned in the notches or slots 21 of the bolts, while those out of the selected position have their cuiwed portions positioned mainly above the notches of the bolts 20 which are held in unlocking position agai n st the pressure of their co-acting springs 23 and by the straight lower ends of said push rods The push rods in the selected combination, by reason of having their curved portions in the notches of their to acting bolts, permit said bolts to be springpressed in a forward d'kr, lion with their front ends lying in the path of the latch plate 16 when the latter is elevated, the rear en( of said notches bearing ag s: the of the concaved portions of said pi It will be apparent, therefore, that "\r selected push rod or rods depended upon to lock the latch plate 16, are in normal position, the meeting bolt or bolts will either bear against the rear or inner face ot' the latch plate or extend underneath the lower edge of the latch plate, depending on the position of the latter. lVhen the latch plate 16 is in elevated or looking position and the bolt or bolts selected for locking the same are projected underneath the lower edge of said plate, the upper half of the concave portion or portions of the co-acting push rod or rods, when being depressed, will ride in contact with the rear wall or walls of the notch or notches in the co-acting bolt or bolts and force the same rearwardly against the action of their co-acting' spring or sprii 2 23; thereby releasing the latch plate so that it may be lowered and the steering post hecome unlocked. When, however, said latch plate is lowered and the bolt or bolts selected lie against the rear or inner face of said latch plate, the co-acting push rod or rods may be depressed without actuating said bolt or bolts.

It will also be apparent that when any oi? the push rods out of the selected combination are depressed, the lower portions or the convex sides of said curved portions will act against the front ends of the notches or slots through which said rods are passed, thus forcing the co-acting bolts underneath the latch plate and locking the latter. The push rods out of the combination. which are depressed in an attempt to unlock the car by an unauthorized person. remain depressed and maintain the latch plate in locked con dition, as will be hereinafter explained.

In the form shown in Fig. l, a cross pin 20* is arranged at one end of the notch or slot in each of the bolts, such cross pin constituting a bearing against which the push rods 27 are adapted to slide. In this form of the device the springs 23 constitute means for moving the bolts in one direction as be fore stated. In the form shown in Fig. 6

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similar cross pins 520 are mounted at each end of the slots in the bolts and in this form of the device the push rods constitute the means for moving the bolts in both directions. If desired, the cross pins may be dis pensed with, and in such cases the push rods will be or come in contact with one or the other end of the notches or slots, or with both ends; and where the cross pins 20 are used in spaced relation in each bolt, they are to be considered as the opposite riding ends of the. notches or slots. lVhere a cross pin is used at the rear end of the notch or slot, it is to be considered as the rear riding wall of said notch or slot.

The bolts 20 are so positioned in the casing that when moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, they will lie in the path of movement of the lower edge 16 of the latch plate 16 so that this plate cannot be moved clownwardly. This is termed the operative or locking position of the bolts. It is only when all the bolts havebeen moved out of the path of the latch plate 16, that is, into inoperative or unlocking position, that said plate can be forced downward to disengage the member 13 from the member 12. 7

It will be understood that when the push rods are adjusted in the buttons so that,

' with the buttons in their normal position,

the curved portions of the push rods stand opposite the bolts, the ends of the bolts will normally lie in an operative or locking position in the path of movement of the latch plate 16. Any one or desired co1nbination of bolts may of course be selected to normally occupy such position, and such bolts will be caused to move to inoperative or unlocking position when the buttons corresponding thereto are depressed, due to the fact that the upper half of the conoaved portions of said bolts will engage the pins 20, or in the absence of the pins 20 the rear walls of the notches or slots in said bolts, and force said bolts rearwardly against the action of the springs 22?. It will also be understood that when the push rods are adjusted in the buttons so that the curved portions of such bolts normally lie above the bolts, as shown at the left in Fig. 1, the bolts will be held in inoperative or unlocking position out of the path of movement of plate 16 until the buttons are depressed whereupon the bolts will be caused to move into operative or looking position, this being due to the fact that the lower convex half of the curved portions of said push rods will force the co-acting bolts forwardly, or to the left in Fig. 1, and when in this position their forward ends lie in the path of the latch plate 16.

The bolts corresponding to the actuating elements selected to include the automatic locking combination are normally in unlocking or inoperative position, they being retained by reason of their front ends bearing against the rear face of the latch plate, and they are spring-pressed against said plate. Consequently, when stopping the car and locking the steering post so that the car cannot be guided in its movements, it is only necessary to grasp the handle 17 of the latch plate and elevate said plate, whereupon the spring or springs behind the bolt or bolts selected to lock the car will press said boltor bolts forwardly so that the front end or ends lie in the path of said latch plate and hold the latter against move-' ment, thus preventing disengagement of the locking member 13 from the locking member 12. The push rods not in the selected combination normally have their straight rear faces directly beneath the cam portions of said rods in contact with the rear ends of the notches or slots in the co-acting bolts and position said bolts so that they are free of the latch plate 16 or, in other words, so that they are in inoperative or unlocking position.

A guide plate 30 is mounted in the casing beneath the bolts 20 and each of the push rods 27 is arranged to pass through suitable openings 30 in this guide plate, these openings being somewhat larger than the push rods. In each of said openings 30 there is placed a block of insulating material 31 and the push rods 27 pass through such blocks and snugly engage the same. The plate 30 is separated from the wall of the casing 15 by a layer of suitable insulating material 32.

Beneath the plate 30 and in engagement therewith is a slidable contact plate 33 which is suitably supported in the casing 15 and insulated therefrom and which is engaged by a spring 33 secured to a part push rods not included inthe selected combination, which are those adjusted to. normally assume an elevated position, are' adapted to lie above said contact plate 33 and beneath the blocks of insulating material 31. When any one of the push rods so adjusted is caused to move downward by depression of the corresponding button 25 with which it is connected, the projection 27* will contact with and move the contact plate 33 to the right as viewed in Fig. 1. After the projection 27* passes beneath the plate 33, the spring 33 will force the plate to the left which results in holding such push rod and its corresponding button in depressed or lowered position until said contact plate is moved to release the rod. The contact of the selected push rods with the plate 33 accomplished a function hereinafter described.

After the projection 27 of each push rod not in the selected combination passes beneath the plate 32, the altirupt upper face of said projection will engage the under side of said plate adjacent its opening and prevent the spring 26 surrounding the depressed push rod from elevating the same, and when this occurs the latch plate will remain in lOQHEd relation. to the locking member 12 on the steering post. Under such conditions it will he necessary to employ a proper tool to engage the depressed buttons and rotate the same so as to lower the connected gush rods until the upper half of the concaved portions of said rods pass in riding contact with the rear wall of the notch of the coacting" bolts and force said bolts rearwardly, or to the right in 1, against the action 01 the spring 23 in rear of said bolts. This will permit the latch plate 16 to be lowered when depressing the proper buttons in the selected combination. and when lowering the latch plate, the beveled lower endsof the arms 16 thereof Will engage the contact plate 31 and force the same rearwardly against the action of the spring 23, thus releasing the abrupt upper faces of the projections 27 from said contact plate and allowing the improperly depressed push rods to be elevated by the springs 26 co-actino; therewith.

It is to be noted that when the push rot s 27 of the selected. combination are adjusted to their lowermost position as illustrated at the right in Fig. 1, they will not contact with plate 33 when such rods are moved by the buttons. Therefore. the contact alate 33 is not actuated by depressing the Juttons oi the chosen combination. It may also be noted that when the bolts are engaged by the straight portions of the push rods, the bolts will he held out of the path of movement ct latch plate 16, or in an inoperative or unlocking position.

Means are provided for moving the contact plate 33 to release any of the push rods that may be engaged therewith. The latch plate 16 at its lower edge is provided with two arms 6 which are beveled at the lower ends, which beveled portions are adapted to Contact with and move said plate rearwardly or to the right in Fig. 1. Blocks of insulating; material 33 are secured to said plate in position to receive the thrust of the arms 16 of latch plate 16 when said plate is moved downwardly.

The means for sounding an alarm comprises an electrical circuit in which an alarm device (not shown) such as a bell is inserted such device being concealed in any suitable location in the automobile or other construction with which the invention is used. A conductor 31?: constitutes part of said circuit this conductor being; connected to the 'i'nsulated guide plate 30 against which the con tact plate 33 mounted. As noted heretofore push rods 27 when adjusted to the iov-rermost position do not contact with plate 30 or 33, they being insulated from plate 30 and spaced from plate 33, and hence any of such rods so positioned will have no effect 11 closing an electric circuit. But any c1 s1 ch rods adjusted to their uppermost position will when moved downwardly contact with said plate 33 as heretofore described. When such contact occurs a current can flow through conductor 35, plates 30 and 33, the rod 27 which is in contact with plate 33 and finally to ground on the framework of the automobile or other construction to which the invention is applied. The result is that an alarm is sounded which will continue as long as plate continues in engagement with the push rod 27. As this forms no part of my invention herein claimed, it is not deemed neccss T to illustrate or describe the complete circuit.

The arrangement for controlling the ignition circuit of an automobile will now be described. the latch plate 16 carries an arm 10 which is made 01 insulated material, in which arm a short conductor 41 is mounted which extends from opposite sides thereof. Secured in the casing 15 are two contact members 42 4:2 i'nounted upon suitable insulated blocks. tl ese contact members being so positioned that opposite ends of the conductor 41 will contact therewith when the latch plate 16 is moved downward. Insulated electric wires 43. are connicted to said contact members. these wires being arranged in the wall of the casing 15 or otherwise suitahly mounted in the casing. From this construction it will be seen that when the latch plate 16 is raised the ignition circuit is broken and that lowering of said plate serves to close said circuit. The arrangement in eli'ect constitutes an electric switch operable by raising and lowering of the latch plate 16.

The wires and +13 are intended to be arranged in the standard 10 so as to be concealed from view and from access by anyone who might desire to interfere with the circuits particularly that for souiidingthe alarm. I

To briefly review the operation of the mechanism it will be understood that the members 12 and 13 are adapted to be brought into engagement by upward movement of the latch plate 16 upon which the locking member 13 is carried. When said latch plate is in its raised position. certain of the bolts 20, any of which may be selected. will be normally positioned in the path of movement of such plate, the push rods 2? corresponding to the selected bolts being downward movement, the buttons or com.-

bination of buttons corresponding to such bolts are depressed, the result being that the push rods connected to such buttons will contact with and move the bolts out of the path of movement of the latch plate 16 when such plate can be freely moved to its lowermost position to disengage the looking mechanism 13 from its c o-operating member 12. The bolts corresponding to the buttons not in the combination will be normally held out of the path of movement of the latch plate 16 by the push rods 27, but when one or more of such but-tons not in the combination are depressed and the curved portion or portions of the push rod or rods connected to such button or buttons are moved downward, the spring or springs bearing against the end or ends of the corresponding bolt or bolts will. cause said bolt or bolts to be moved into position to prevent-lowering of the latch plate 1.6,

rods corresponding to the buttons not in the combination being arranged in an elevated position, will cause sounding of an alarm by reason of the fact that the projections 27' formed on the lower ends ot such rods will be caused to engage with the contact plate 33, thus completing an electrical circuit through the alarm device. This alarm will continue until the Contact plate 33 is moved by lowering of the latch plate 16. The latch plate 16- in addition to its function of moving the locking members into and out of engagement also causes breaking of the ignition circuit of the au tom'obile due to the fact that when in its raised position the conductor 41 carried by such plate is disengaged from the contact members 42 mounted in the casing 15. This circuit is restored when the plate 16 is lowered, which action results in bringing the conductor 41 into engagement with the contact members 42 mounted in the casing.

It is to be noted that when the latch plate 16 is lowered, the front or free ends o't boltsare spring-pressed against the inner or rear face of said latch plate and the mere raising 'of said plate will result in automatically locking the same; consequently,

'no other manipulation of the lock is required for locking the steering post or othe ob ect with which the lock may be adapted. for use. .It s further to he noted that by arranging the buttons so that theyface upwardly and are movable .in a plane or planes parallel with the movement of the latch plate, accessibility, convenience, freedom in manipulation and ease in operation are provided, as it will be quite clear that if two or more buttons are used in the combi nation, the force applied thereto. will be such as the fingers possess and consequently the fingers of one hand will be employed for manipulating the buttons while the other hand will be free to serve in moving the latch plate, and as both of these are movable in the same direction, there are no contrary or counteracting forces of the hands required, which would tend to reduce the pressure exerted by the fingers, and at no time would there be pressure employed that would tend to loosen. the look from the standard or other object to which it may be secured.

It is evident that various modifications in the details of the foregoing construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention which is intended to include constructions fairly embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim is 1. A mechanism of the kind described comprising a casing, a plurality of bolts movably mounted therein, a plurality of buttons depressibly mounted in the casing, one for each bolt, a plurality of push rods adjustably connected to said buttons, means for maintaining selected ones of said bolts normally in looking position and means on said push rods for moving such last-named bolts out. of locking position whenthe buttons corresponding thereto are depressed, and locking means including a latch plate mounted to move in a plane parallel to the movement of said buttons, said plate being locked or released bythe movement of said bolts by said buttons I 2. A permutation mechanism of the kind described comprising a casing, a plurality of bolts movably mounted therein, a plurality of depressible buttons mounted in a wall of said casing, a push rod adjustably connected to each of said buttons and positioned to engage the corresponding bolt, said adjustable connection enabling any one or more of said rods to be adjusted for effec tive use in combination to automatically assume a locking position and be moved into unlocking position upon being depressed, the remaining rods being normally in unlocking position and being moved into lock-' ing position upon being depressed, and locking means including a latch plate mounted to move in a plane parallel to the movement 5. A mechanism of the kind-described comprising a. casing, a plurality of bolts movably mounted therein, a plurality of dcpressible buttons mounted in a wall of said casing, one for each bolt, means for causing selected ones of said bolts to move in one direction when the corresponding buttons are depressed, means for causing others oi? said bolts to move in the opposite direction when their corresponding buttons are depressed, and locking means including a latch plate mounted to move in a plane parallel to the movement of said buttons, said plate being locked or released by the movement of said bolts by said buttons.

4-. A mechanism otthe kind described comprising a casing, a plurality of bolts mounted therein, a plurality of buttons yieldingly mounted in a Wall of said casing,

a push rod adjustably connected to each of said buttons for operating said bolts, each of said push rods being provided With a cam surface adapted to be positioned in operative relation to its respective bolt, Whereby depression of said but-tons Will result in movement'ot said bolts, and locking means including a latch plate mounted to move in a plane parallel to the movement of said buttons, said plate being locked or released by the movement of said bolts by said buttons.

A mechanism of the kind described comprising a plurality ofbolts and means for movably supporting the same, a plurality of depressible buttons, one for each of said bolts, a support in which such buttons are mounted, means for causing selected ones of said bolts to move in one direction for unlocking the same when the buttons corresponding to such bolts are depressed, means for causing others of said bolts to move in the opposite direction for locking the same when the buttons corresponding thereto are depressed, and locking means including a latch plate mounted to move in a plane parallel to the movement o't' said buttons, said plate being locked or released by the movement of said bolts by said buttons.

6. A mechanism of the kind described comprising a plurality of bolts and means for movably supporting the same, a plurality of depressible buttons, one for each of said bolts, a support in which such buttons are mounted, means for causing selected ones of said bolts to move in one direction When the buttons corresponding to such bolts are depressed, and locking means including a latch plate mounted to move in a plane parallel to the movement of said buttons, said plate being locked or released by the movement of said bolts by said buttons.

7. A mechanism of the kind described comprising a casing, a plurality of bolts movably mounted therein, a plurality oi": clepressible buttons mounted in said casing,

one for each bolt, means for causing selected ones of said bolts to occupy a locking position when the buttons corresponding thereto are in normal position, means for causing such selected bolts to move to unlocking position when the buttons corresponding there to are deyn'essed, and locking means includiuga latch plate mounted to move in a pie. re parallel to the movement of said luittoirs.v said plate being locked or released by the movement of said bolts by said ljnittons.

8. A mechanism of the kind described comprising a casing, a plurality of bolts movably mounted therein, a plurality of depressible buttons mounted in said. casing, one for each bolt,- means tor causing select-- ed ones of said bolts to occupy a locking position when the buttons corresponding thereto are in normal position, means for causing such selected bolts to move to unlocking position When the buttons corresponding thereto are depressed, means for causing the bolts not so selected to move into operative position When the bolts corresponding thcreto are depressed, and locking means including a latch plate mounted to move in a plane parallel to the movement of said buttons, said plate being locked or released by the movement of said bolts by said'buttons.

9. A mechanism of the kind described comprising a casing, a plurality of bolts movably mounted therein, a plurality of buttons depressibly mounted in said casing, one for each bolt, means operable by depression of a desired combination of said buttons for moving the bolts corresponding thereto in one and the same direction, and locking means including a latch plate mounted to move in a plane parallel to the movement of said buttons, said plate being locked or released by the movement ot said bolts by said buttons.

10. A mechanism of the kind described comprising a casing. a plurality of bolts movably mounted therein, a plurality of buttons depressibly mounted in said casing, one for each bolt, means operable by depression of a desired combination of said buttons for moving the bolts corresponding thereto in one and the same direction to unlocking position, and means operable by depression of the buttons not in such combination for moving certain of said bolts in the opposite direction to locking position, and locking means including a latch plate mounted to move in a plane parallel to the move ment of. said buttons, said plate being locked or released by the movement of said bolts by said buttons.

11. A mechanism of the kind described comprising a movable latch plate including a locking element, a locking member engageable With said locking element and disengageable therefrom, a casing, a plurality of bolts movably mounted therein, a plurality of but-- tons depressibly mounted in said casing, one for each bolt, means for maintaining desired ones of said bolts normally in position to prevent disengagement oi said. locking element from said locking member, and means operable upon depression of the buttons corresponding to said last named bolts for moving the same out of said position 12. A mechanism. of the kind described comprising a movable latch plate, a locking member for connection therewith anddis connection therefrom, a casing, a plurality of bolts movably mounted therein, a plurality of buttons depressibly mounted in said. casing, one for each bolt, means for maintaining desired ones of said bolts normally in position to prevent disconnection of said. latch plate from said locking member, means operable upon depression of the buttons corresponding to said last named bolts for moving the same out of said position, and means operable upon depression of the other buttons for causing other bolts to move into position to prevent disconnection of said latch plate from said locking member.

13. A mechanism of the kind described comprising a movable latch plate, a locking member connectible with and disconnectible from said movable latch plate, a casing, a plurality of bolts movably mounted in said casing, a plurality of buttons depressibly mounted on said casing, one for each bolt, means for causing the desired ones of said bolts to normally occupy a locking position to prevent movement of said latch. plate, and means for moving said last named bolts to unlocking position to permit movement of said latch plate when the buttons corresponding to such last named bolts are depressed, said latch plate being mounted to move in a plane parallel to the movementot said buttons, and being locked or released by the movement of the bolts by said buttons.

14. A'mechanism of the kind described comprising a movable latch plate, a locking member connectible with and disconnectible from said movable latch plate, a casing, a plurality of bolts movably mounted in said casing, a plurality of buttons depressibly mounted on said casing, one for each bolt, means for causing the desired ones of 7 said bolts to normally occupy a locking position to prevent movement of said latch plate,

means for moving said last named bolts to unlocking position to permit movement of said latch plate when the buttons corresponding to such last named bolts are depressed, and means for causing the other bolts to move into position to prevent move ment of said latch. plate when the buttons corresponding to such other bolts are depressed, said latch plate being mounted to move in a plane parallel to the movement of said buttons and being locked or released by the movement of the bolts by said i of said rods, means for supporting said buttons, means for yieldingly urging each of said bolts in one direction, said rod having means effective when said rods occupy a certain position relative to said buttons, for moving said bolts in one direction upon depression of said buttons, said means being effective when said rods and buttons occupy a different relative position to permit said yielding means to move said bolts in the opposite direction upon depression of said buttons, a latch plate mounted to move in a plane parallel to the movement of said buttons, said plate being locked or released by the movement of the bolts by said buttons,

16 A mechanism of the kind described comprising a casing, a plurality of bolts mounted therein, a plurality of depressible buttons mounted in the casing, one for each bolt, locking devices, a latch plate for moving said locking devices into or out of engagement, means for maintaining selected ones of said bolts in position to lock said locking devices in engagement through the medium of said latch plate, a plurality of push rods adjustably connected to said buttons and positioned to engage said bolts, and means on said rods for moving said selected bolts out of such locking position when the buttons corresponding thereto are depressed.

1.7. A mechanism of the kind described comprising a movable member, a locking.

member adapted to engage and hold said movable member,- a latch plate by which said locking member is supported, a plurality of bolts, means for causing a selected combination of said bolts to normally occupy a position in the path of movement of said latch plate, a plurality of buttons, one for each bolt, a plurality'of push rods connected to said buttons, and means on said push rods for causing said selected bolts't-o move out of the path of said latch plate when the buttons corresponding thereto are depressed;

18. An automobile lock comprising the combination of a casing, a locking element, an actuating element controlling said looking element, a plurality of bolts mounted to move within said casing, a push rod for each of said bolts, each push rod having a curved cam portion capable of moving the bolt forward or back to lock or unlock said locking element, said push rods being adjustable up orv down with relation to the bolt to change the effect thereon on the downward movement of said rods.

19. An automobile lock comprising the combination of a casing, a locking element, an actuating element controlling said looking element, a plurality of bolts mounted to move within said casing, a push rod for each of said bolts, each push rod having a curved cam portion capable of moving the bolt forward or back, a button threaded on said push rod by which said push rod is adj ustable up or down with relation to the bolt to change the direction of movement of said bolt, said bolts when moved in one direction serving to lock said locking element and to unlock the same when moved in the opposite direction.

20. An automobile lock comprising the combination of a casing, a plurality of reciprocable bolts mounted to move therein, a push rod for each of said bolts, each push rod having a curved cam portion capable of moving its co -acting bolt forward or back, a button threaded on said push rod by which said push rod is adjustable up or down with relation to said bolt to change the direction of movement of the latter, said button comprising an inner sleeve threaded on the rod and having an outwardly extending flange at the bottom thereof capable of engaging the casing, an outer sleeve at the top of the inner sleeve, and a compression spring surrounding the inner sleeve and held between the outer sleeve and the casing.

21. An automobile lock comprising a casing, a plurality of push buttons depressibly mounted in the casing, locking means including a latch plate mounted to move in the casing in a direction parallel to the direc tion of movement of the push buttons, a plurality of locking bolts, one for each button, mounted in the casing for movement substantially at right angles to the movement of the push buttons into and out of locking engagement with said latch plate, and means operated by the push buttons for moving said bolts into locking position.

22. A permutation lock having a locking element, a plurality of similar parallel keys all moving upand down in the same direction, a bolt for each key moving at right angles thereto, and an actuating element to control said locking element, some of said bolts being moved to the right by the depression of their keys to unlock said actuating element, and other bolts being moved to the left by the depression of their keys to lock said actuating element, said keys and bolts being adjustable with relation to each other to secure this result.

23. A permutation lock having a locking element, a plurality of similar parallel keys arranged in a row, all moving up and down in the same direction, a bolt for each key moving at right angles thereto, said bolts being similar to each other and causing the locking and unlocking of said locking element, some of said bolts being moved in one direction by the depression of their keys to cause said locking element to be unlocked, and other bolts being moved in the opposite direction on the depression of their keys to cause said locking element to be locked, said keys and bolts being adjustable with relation to each other to secure this result.

24. A permutation lock having a plurality of similar parallel keys all moving up and down in the same direction, a bolt for each key moving at right angles thereto, and a cam on each key engaging a part of its co-acting bolt to move said bolt in one direction.

25. A permutation lock having a plurality of similar parallel keys all moving up and down in the same direction, a bolt for each key moving at right angles thereto, a cam on each key acting to move its co-acting bolt in one direction when the key is moved down, said keys being adjustable up or down thereon to change the initial position of the cams and cause the co-acting bolts of the adjusted keys to move in the opposite direction on the movement of said keys.

26. A permutation lock having a plurality of similar parallel keys all reciprocable in the same direction, a bolt for each key moving at right angles thereto, some ofsaid bolts being moved to the right by the depression of their co-acting keys and other bolts being moved to the left by the depression of their co-acting keys, said keys and bolts being relatively adjustable to secure this result, and a latch plate movable parallel to the movement of the keys, said plate being engaged by said bolts and locked against movement thereby.

27. A permutation lock having a latching element, a series of manipulating elements movable parallel with said latching element, and bolts arranged at right angles to said latching element and manipulating elements and adapted to lock said latching element against movement.

28. A permutation lock having a latching element, a series of manipulating elements movable parallel with said latching element, a series of bolts movable at right angles to the movement of said manipulating elements, one for each of said manipulating elements, said manipulating elements and bolts having co-acting means whereby certain of said bolts are moved into locking position when'actuating their co-acting manipulating elements and other bolts are moved into unlocking position when actuating their co -acting manipulating elements to respectively lock and unlock said latching element.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM R. TOWNLEY. 

